50 Years, One Big Reunion: AIS-Salzburg Celebrates Half a Century
July 6, 2026
This past weekend, June 26–28, AIS-Salzburg threw open its doors to celebrate a milestone half a century in the making. More than 250 alumni, former teachers, administrators, and resident staff returned to campus, representing all five decades of the school’s history — first as Salzburg International Preparatory School, and later as AIS-Salzburg.
“The weekend went incredibly well. It was amazing to see so many people from so many different eras of the school come back. It showed how important the school is to a lot of people,” said dorm parent Kevin Fox, who was the lead coordinator of the event.
“Amazing! My heart is full,” said alumna Emery McGarvin (’87–”91) at the conclusion of the event.
The heat was relentless, with temperatures climbing past 35°C all weekend, but it did nothing to dampen the energy. From the moment the first guests arrived on Friday evening, the campus was filled with the kind of joyous, celebratory atmosphere that only comes from old friends reuniting. People who hadn’t seen each other in years embraced, swapped stories, and wandered the halls trading memories. “Nostalgic” was the word of the weekend, heard again and again from guests of every era.
Photos: Graduates who went to the school in the late 1970’s and as recently as 2024 pose for photos at the 50th anniversary reunion
This past weekend, June 26–28, AIS-Salzburg threw open its doors to celebrate a milestone half a century in the making. More than 250 alumni, former teachers, administrators, and resident staff returned to campus, representing all five decades of the school’s history — first as Salzburg International Preparatory School, and later as AIS-Salzburg.
“The weekend went incredibly well. It was amazing to see so many people from so many different eras of the school come back. It showed how important the school is to a lot of people,” said dorm parent Kevin Fox, who was the lead coordinator of the event.
“Amazing! My heart is full,” said alumna Emery McGarvin (’87–”91) at the conclusion of the event.
The heat was relentless, with temperatures climbing past 35°C all weekend, but it did nothing to dampen the energy. From the moment the first guests arrived on Friday evening, the campus was filled with the kind of joyous, celebratory atmosphere that only comes from old friends reuniting. People who hadn’t seen each other in years embraced, swapped stories, and wandered the halls trading memories. “Nostalgic” was the word of the weekend, heard again and again from guests of every era.
Coming Home
For many alumni, the most powerful part of the weekend was simply staying overnight in their old dorm rooms. Walking those halls again, some 30 or 40 years later, was described as nothing short of a “trip” back to some of the most formative years of their lives. A few even worked up the nerve to sneak into the dormitories of the opposite sex for a photo — an act that, in their student days, would have meant a swift trip to detention.
A Tree for the Next 50 Years
Alumni from the classes of 1988–1992 took it upon themselves to mark the occasion permanently. The group presented the school with a commemorative plaque, which will be installed at the front entrance, and planted a tree in the back yard to honor the school’s 50 years. Headmaster McLean rolled up his sleeves to join them, getting his hands dirty alongside the group as the tree went into the ground.
Alumna Elisabeth Felicitas Werthmann (’89–’93) took part in the tree-planting herself. “Planting the apple tree is such a nice idea of contributing to the future,” she said, “just like establishing the new fund for future students” — a nod to the AIS-Salzburg Senior Scholarship Fund, announced at the event that same Saturday.
Good Food, Good Company
No AIS-Salzburg gathering is complete without a great meal, and the kitchen team delivered all weekend. Gerhard and Oliver led the kitchen staff in serving up smash burgers on Friday night and a full barbecue buffet on Saturday, keeping guests well fed between rounds of storytelling. Behind the scenes, current faculty and resident staff — Laura and Kevin Fox, Jennifer Kasberger, David Burns, and Ali Welch — organized the event from top to bottom, building slideshows, greeting guests at the door, pouring drinks, and pitching in on clean-up long after the festivities wound down.
“Unbelievable! And the food was great,” said alumna Niza Moreno (’17–’18) when asked how she enjoyed the event.
No AIS-Salzburg gathering is complete without a great meal, and the kitchen team delivered all weekend. Gerhard and Oliver led the kitchen staff in serving up smash burgers on Friday night and a full barbecue buffet on Saturday, keeping guests well fed between rounds of storytelling. Behind the scenes, current faculty and resident staff — Laura and Kevin Fox, Jennifer Kasberger, David Burns, and Ali Welch — organized the event from top to bottom, building slideshows, greeting guests at the door, pouring drinks, and pitching in on clean-up long after the festivities wound down.
“Unbelievable! And the food was great,” said alumna Niza Moreno (’17–’18) when asked how she enjoyed the event.
In Their Own Words
“It was truly wonderful to see everyone again and to catch up with our teachers. The whole evening brought back so many happy memories and such a warm feeling of nostalgia. I’m really grateful I got to be there.“
— Daria Sureava, student 2014–2017
“The food was great! Gerhard and crew really know how to put out a wonderful feed! The setting was perfect and the campus really looked great! The thing I enjoyed most, of course, was getting together with former colleagues and students! It is truly heartwarming, especially from a teacher’s perspective, to see former students excelling in life goals and prospering! Loved it!“
— Joe Suttmann, teacher, administrator, dorm parent 2009–2025
“What a great weekend it was, amazing to see old friends and meet so many new people to compare experiences with, especially the founding students. Thank you for the omelette! Lived up to the hype.“
— Diderick Woltering, alumnus, 1988–1990
“It was so great to see former players of mine dating back as far as 2009, and hearing their memories, from their perspective, mostly of the various sports trips to London, Budapest, or Zurich.“
— David Burns, former teacher, longtime coach and athletic director, 2004–Present
Looking Ahead
If there was one consistent message from alumni throughout the weekend, it was this: don’t let it be another 50 years before the next one. Organizers heard the same request again and again — bring this celebration back on a more regular basis, with several alumni even pushing for an annual reunion.
“I hope you guys organise more events in the future. It was great to see everyone,” said alumnus, Arif Majed (’98–”02), via Instagram. Alumna Majlinda Toska (’91–’95) echoed that feeling, reflecting on how meaningful it was to catch up with old classmates and meet alumni from entirely different decades. As she put it, “I think we should not wait 50 years again, but have such events more often.“
Fifty years of SIPS/AIS-S history, told through three days of laughter, omelets, and reunions decades in the making — and, if the alumni have their say, it’s only the beginning of the next chapter.